Be all End all

Yesterday was the culmination of all the hard work put out by staff and volunteers at the Quilt Show. The second Saturday of July marks the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show extravaganza. And that doesn’t even begin to cover it! Over 1100 quilts were displayed throughout the town of Sisters. Food vendors and artists were there as well. Here, a pdf of this year’s 2009 quilt show and related events.

Though the total attendance of the Quilt Show is not measured as far as I’m aware, my Economic Impact Study volunteers were able to collect 230 surveys in an hour and a half. They were divided into four teams and placed strategically around the town. To gain a random sample, the surveyors counted every 10th person to take the survey, which means that each team encountered over 550 people in a small portion of the morning.

I snapped my fair share of pictures along with the “tourists”, but sadly my camera chord is hostage in Seattle, WA from my visit a few weeks ago. Some pictures from the Quilt Show website from years past will suffice to illustrate the craziness of the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show.

The main street in Sisters is closed for the Quilt Show. Cascade Avenue – actually highway 126 – crosses the state from Florence to Prineville in eastern Oregon.

The side of the Stitchin’ Post – yes really! A hub of activities during the day.

More photos to come! Suffice to say that this was a completely unique event – and truly the only one of its kind anywhere.

I finished my day by grabbing a pint at the local brewpub, Three Creeks Brewing Company. I was pleased by the variety of microbrews and good pub menu items.

My real motivation however, was the lure of a local band: The Anvil Blasters. I jammed with them last week and had a blast! I particularly enjoyed tunes written by their own Jim Cornelius. This group brings me back from the classical symphonic world to Americana roots with influence from the wild west and blues tunes.

This day was definitely the be all end all experience in Central Oregon so far!

Find more like this: Community Arts Internship, Sisters 2009